This month’s cover is by Bryn Barnard, illustrating “The Man Who Put the Bomp” by Richard Chwedyk. To see more of his work, visit his website at https://www.brynbarnard.com/.

THE RETURN OF THE SAURS

In “The Measure of All Things,” published in the January 2001 issue of F&SF, Richard Chwedyk introduced us to the “saurs,” genetically engineered intelligent toy companions who looked like tiny versions of dinosaurs. Like many other pets, the saurs sometimes ended up neglected and abandoned, but there was a house where rescued saurs could be safe . . . and get into new kinds of trouble. The saurs have appeared three more times, in “Bronte’s Egg” (August 2002), “In Tibor’s Cardboard Castle” (Oct/Nov 2004), and “Orfy” (Sept/Oct 2010). The series has been incredibly popular, garnering numerous award nominations and winning a Nebula Award for “Bronte’s Egg.”

Now, at long last, the saurs return in an all-new novella, “The Man Who Put the Bomp” — brace yourself for VOOM!

MORE GREAT FICTION

We have other great science fiction in this issue. Robert Grossbach considers a possible future for self-driving cars in “Driverless.” Eleanor Arnason solves a mystery that involves our interaction with other intelligent species in “Daisy.” And poet Ruth Berman takes us across vast distances of space and time with her poem “Spacemail Only.”

There are also several varieties of fantasy to enjoy. Matthew Hughes introduces us to a new character in his Archonate universe — Baldemar, a would-be wizard’s henchman, makes his debut in “Ten Half-Pennies.” Albert E. Cowdrey takes us to New Orleans and acquaints us with William Warlock, a professional problem solver with supernatural assistance, in “The Avenger.” And James Sallis brings us a story music and a different kind of magic in “Miss Cruz.”

And we’re also pleased to introduce you to the work of Arundhati Hazra, an Indian writer who makes her genre fiction debut in this issue with the delightful story, “The Toymaker’s Daughter.”

OUR REGULAR COLUMNS AND FEATURES

Charles de Lint suggests Books to Look For by Amber Lynn Natusch, Jasmine Walt and Rebecca Hamilton, Andrew Vachss, Jen Blood, Rodney Jones, Kevin Hearne, and he takes a look at Spectrum 23: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art. In Musing on Books, Michelle West considers new books by Cixin Liu, Aliette de Bodard, and Peter S. Beagle, along with the anthology The Starlit Wood: New Fairy Tales, edited by Dominik Parisien and Navah Wolfe. In our film column, Kathi Maio reviews Arrival, the movie based on Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life.” And for our Curiosities column, David Langford takes us to A Beleaguered City, an 1879 story of the supernatural by Mrs. Oliphant, the name under which Margaret Oliphant published her many popular works.

As we announced in January, the Science Column by Pat Murphy and Paul Doherty has returned to every issue. This month continues their exploration of robotics with wearable technology and “Robots In Your Pants”.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

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